Let All Things Now Living
Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
The hymn expresses a comprehensive theology of creation care and universal praise, reflecting Lutheran emphasis on the goodness of creation and God's sustaining providence. It connects creature response to divine blessing, consistent with Lutheran understanding of gratitude as the Christian's fundamental posture.
History & Background
Written in 1939 by American hymnist Katharine Kennicott Davis as a modern paraphrase of Psalm 148. The text was initially paired with the Welsh melody ASH GROVE and has since become widely used in Lutheran and ecumenical worship.
Katherine K Davis wrote this text for the tune ASH Scripture References GROVE in the 1920s. The text was first published as an anthem aH st- = Gen. 1 and descant setting in 1939 (by E. C. Schirmer) under the Job 26:7-14; 38 name John Cowley, one of her pseudonyms. (Davis wrote “The Little Drummer Boy,” 1941, as well as many other songs under this and other pseudonyms.) Employing Old Testament images, the text calls forth praise from all creatures and directs that praise to God the Creator. We praise God because he made us and provides 617 THE PSALMS, BIBLE SONGS, AND HYMNS for us (st. 1); we join our praise to that of the entire universe in a song of “hosanna and praise” (st. 2).
Hymnal Appearances
- Chalice Hymnal — 717
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 881
- Glory to God — 37
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 557
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 543
- Lutheran Worship — 462
- New Century Hymnal — 558
- United Methodist Hymnal — 147
- Voices Together — 85
Liturgical Use
For many worship services of praise and thanksgiving including, but by no means limited to, harvest thanksgiving; a doxology at the close of worship.
Bulletin Note
Composed by Katharine Kennicott Davis in 1939, this hymn set to the Welsh melody 'Ash Grove' expresses Lutheran theology of creation's goodness and God's providential care, calling all creatures to grateful stewardship.
Preaching Connection
This hymn amplifies the Gospel's proclamation that all creation is upheld by Christ's word and declares the grateful obedience the Law demands: that we steward and praise the world God has blessed and entrusted to our care.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From contemplation of Christ's humble birth in obscurity to personal invitation for Christ's transformative indwelling; movement from historical event to soteriological application
Themes
Creation care Universal praise Thanksgiving Divine providence Stewardship